SANTA was branded a "Scrooge" today by parents paying more than #20 to watch a single child enjoy a grotto in Birmingham city centre.

The Christmas treat in Chamberlain Square, run by Birmingham City Council, costs #5 per child - but parents also have to stump up #5 each to watch the magic moment, plus another #6 for a treasured photograph.

The council-backed grotto is more expensive than a visit to Santa at Solihull's Touchwood Centre, Redditch's Kingfisher Centre, Merry Hill, near Dudley, and Sutton Coldfields's Mall Gracechurch Centre.

The city council today defended the price, pointing out that they have not risen since last year when more than 21,000 paid for the grotto experience.

But some parents who called the Birmingham Mail complained that they felt the council was using Christmas as an excuse to 'rip off' local families.

"It is extortionate price for a family," complained mum Katrina Wright, from Stafford, who was in Birmingham with six-year-old Amy-Bella and husband David.

She added: "I couldn't believe it when I realised we could not take our own pictures but would have to pay #6 extra for a photo. It is a rip off."

Although it's up to parents whether both pay to enter the grotto, the council insists that at least one has to accompany the child - and many parents both like to watch their child's delight on Santa's knee.

This can mean up to #15 per child's visit, and once inside the grotto all mobile phones have to be switched off and no cameras are allowed, as the only way to get a cherished photo with Father Christmas is to pay another #6.

Alison Barrell, from Harborne, took Ellie, aged three, and Lucy, 20 months, to the grotto and said she was surprised at the cost.

"I couldn't believe that we had to pay for ourselves to go in, but they told us the children could not go in by themselves."

Alison's husband, Tony, said: "I suppose that Santa has a lot of overheads now with the price of elves, and he is going to have to work until he his 67 like the rest of us!"

All the children who visited the grotto enjoyed meeting Santa.

"I met Father Christmas and he even knew my name," said excited nine-year-old Joe Mulhern, from Oldbury.

A spokeswoman for Birmingham City Council said: "The prices are the same as last year when 21,000 people visited the grotto.

"Two thousand people have already taken the trouble to write in our comments book supporting the grotto and saying what great value for money it is.